Compare software

Session vs Tox: catalog facts
Session	Tox
Free Free and open source under the GPL 3.0, run by the Session Technology Foundation.	Free Free and open source under GPL-3.0, with no ads or paid features.
Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS	Self-hosted
No phone number or email needed; the account is a random ID Onion routing hides your address from recipients and from the network	No central servers that can be shut down or asked to hand over data Encrypted text, voice, video, screen sharing and file transfers
Losing your recovery phrase means losing the account with no reset Delivery can be slower than a centralised messenger	Core library has not been independently audited for cryptography Security model is not yet fully specified
Downloadable app	Downloadable app, Self-hosted
Open source	Open source
License: GPL-3.0	License: GPL-3.0
No account needed	Not stated if an account is needed
Works offline	Not stated if it works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 21, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Checked October 2, 2026

Catalog facts only. Anything “not stated” is unconfirmed. Check full listings for details.